he bore a part he showed the prudence and caution for which his name became proverbial at Cambridge; but he was hardly less distinguished by a genuine zeal for progress, manifesting itself especially in a desire for the extension of the studies of the university, and an increase in the number of its professorial chairs. Thus he delighted in such practical evidence of the success of his endeavours as the augmentation of the Woodwardian Museum, the enlargement of the botanical garden, and the erection of the new museums; and he was one of the first to advocate the application of a proportion of the funds of the colleges to the endowment of new professorships. Altogether, he has no slight share in the extraordinary development reached by Cambridge in the years which immediately preceded the time of his death, and in those which have since ensued. An admirable portrait of Cookson by Lowes Dickinson occupies a place of honour in the college hall at Peterhouse; in the parish church of Cherry Hinton, partially restored in remembrance of him, a mural brass, designed by G. G. Scott, records his deserts and renders justice to his qualities. The inscription was composed by W. M. Gunson of Christ's College.
[Memorial articles in Cambridge Chronicle, 7 Oct., and Saturday Review, 14 Oct. 1876; personal knowledge.]
COOKSON, JAMES (1752–1835), divine, was a native of Martindale, Westmoreland. He received his academical education at Queen's College, Oxford, as a member of which house he proceeded B.A. on 13 June 1781, and M.A. on 13 July 1786. Meanwhile he had been instituted, in September 1775, on his own petition, to the rectory of Colmer with Priors Dean, Hampshire, to which he was inducted the following October. He was also for many years curate of the neighbouring village of Steep, and about 1796 was presented to the vicarage of Harting, Sussex. Popular report says that he was put into the last-named living as a locum tenens only, and that when asked to resign he said ‘his conscience did not allow him to do so.’
Despite the cares of three parishes some miles apart, Cookson found time for writing. He published, first, ‘Thoughts on Polygamy, suggested by the dictates of Scripture, Nature, Reason, and Common-sense; with a description of Marriage and its obligations; a contemplation of our National System of Laws relative thereto; and particularly, an examination of 26 Geo. II, ch. 33, commonly called the Marriage Act. Including remarks on Thelyphthora [by the Rev. Martin Madan] and its scheme, with some hints for the prevention of Prostitution. … In two parts,’ 8vo, Winchester, 1782. His next work was ‘A New Family Prayer-Book. … Elucidated with explanatory notes and observations on an entire new plan,’ 8vo, Winchester, 1783 (3rd ed. 1786). This was followed by ‘The Universal Family Bible … illustrated with notes and observations,’ fol. London, 1784. Between the appearance of the last two works Cookson had become master of Churcher's College, Petersfield, at which place he died on 6 Jan. 1835, aged 83, and was buried on the 12th in the chancel of Colmer church. He was of eccentric habits, and is said once to have announced in church, ‘I have forgotten my sermon, but I will read you a true account of the battle of Waterloo.’ In 1814 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.
[Hervey's Hist. of Colmer and Priors Dean, pp. 190–4; information from the vicar of Harting; Gent. Mag. 1835, iii. 441; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Watt's Bibl. Brit.]
COOKWORTHY, WILLIAM (1705–1780), porcelain-maker, was born at Kingsbridge, Devonshire, in 1705, his mother being left a widow with five sons and some daughters. About the time of the father's death nearly all their property was lost in the South Sea stock speculation. The widow retired to a smaller house, in which she maintained herself and daughters by the most rigid economy. William Cookworthy and his brother eventually started in a small drug business in Plymouth. In this they were so successful that they had their mother to live with them in Nut Street, Plymouth, and were enabled to allow her to be a liberal benefactor to the poor. The brothers appear to have followed the business of wholesale druggists for many years. Although educated by the Society of Friends, Cookworthy did not, until he had reached his thirty-first year, manifest any strong religious feelings. At this time he retired from trade, and after a period of probation he accepted a gift in the ministry, and laboured diligently in the western counties. For about twenty-five years Cookworthy held a meeting in his own house ‘every first day evening when at home,’ as we are informed by the ‘Testimony of Monthly Meeting’ for 1781. A Friend of Plymouth thus described him: ‘A tall, venerable man, with three-cornered hat and bushy, curly wig, a mild but intellectual countenance, and full of conversation. … He used to travel as a wholesale chemist through Cornwall, and at Godolphin was always the guest of Nancarrow, superintendent of mines in that district, who being also
